The need for interpreting services is put in focus more than ever, as globalization opens up more countries to the rest of the world. Interpreting and related language services such as translations are vital for proper communication and understanding. Many industries and sectors in society are in constant need of interpreting services. As companies work with international clients and partners, and countries welcome multilingual businesses and visitors, interpreting services become more essential for better accord.
Globalization and the wider reach of the Internet facilitate the growth of countries, economies and people. Many challenges in the conduct of business are solved with oftentimes, effective solutions. One great challenge that is almost universal is the language barrier, which does not have a fixed solution available.
However, the language gap can have an effective solution through interpreting services. Hiring expert interpreters for occasions where multilingual speakers are present ensures that proper message delivery and understanding is achieved.
Various industry sectors require language services. Many benefit from expert translations, while others use interpreting services more. Some use both types of language services often.
Interpreting services help businesses take advantage of business opportunities, overcome sales and trade barriers and improve global business relations.
Let’s check out the industries that have an increasing need for interpreting services most of the time.
1. Healthcare
Healthcare is one of the primary sectors where interpreting services can do a lot of good. For a healthcare provider or a healthcare facility, it is critical that they understand their patients who speak languages that are foreign to them. It is not only because it can affect their bottom line. Proper understanding is critical in order to diagnose whatever medical condition affects the patient and provide the patient with the proper treatment, whether it is giving them the right prescription, requiring them to take further tests or refer them to specialists, recommend hospitalization or undergo surgical treatment.
Interpreting for the healthcare industry is critical. In countries where multiethnic population exists, such as the United States, many patients with limited English language skills need interpreters to help them discuss their ailments with the healthcare providers.
Healthcare facilities in the United States that receive funding from the federal government are now required to provide interpreters and translators to help patients with limited or no English speaking skills. The law prohibits relatives or friends of the patients to interpret or translate for them while seeking medical help.
Hospitals and clinics should have over-the-phone interpreters, video remote interpreting or interpreters on site to ensure that patients can easily access their service. Professional interpreters who are skilled and specialized in medical interpreting provide valuable service to patients especially during medical emergencies.
2. Legal profession
Demand for interpreting services is growing in the legal field. In the United States for example, over 350 languages other than English are spoken. Courts in the U.S. are required to provide interpreters for people with limited English speaking skills. Interpreters are needed during court cases involving individuals who are not comfortable expressing themselves in the English language.
The demand for court interpreters far outweighs the number of interpreters. In California for example, about 220 languages are spoken. The courts in California handle around eight million cases annually (as of 2017), yet there are only 1,900 court interpreters available in the state. You can see the difference between the demand and supply and how dire the need for legal interpreters is.
The lack of court interpreters typically causes the tossing of some cases. At other times, the reviews of cases are postponed or delayed.
3. Entertainment industry
Have you noticed that sign language interpreters are often present in concerts and TV programs? It’s important for more people to be able to access different shows because entertainment is not only for people who have the capacity to understand the language and the performances as a whole. Concerts, magic shows, theater plays and other forms of entertainment should not only have sign language interpreters. These shows can benefit greatly from interpreters because the shows can become accessible to more viewers, not only English speakers, for example.
Interpreting services are essential as well for interviews and presentations that are broadcast live in other parts of the world. An important discovery might be presented from a remote location to the rest of the world, which means interpreters will make it possible for the presentation of the findings to be understood by more people.
4. Banking, finance and business
Communication is vital for this industry sector. Because we are now living in a global economy, banks and other financial institutions have to negotiate and deal with clients worldwide. While English is generally used as a business language, better communication and accord is achieved when a bank, for example, communicate in the language used by the client or business colleague. Interpreters can help facilitate the conversation, whether it is in-person, via teleconference or by video. What is important is to choose an interpreter who has the right set of skills. Aside from the fluency in the language, interpreters also have specializations, so they are qualified to interpret for different business categories, whether it is about gas exploration or export of commodities.
5.Travel Industry
People find joy in traveling and the tourism and travel industry is a sector where interpreting services are essential. You have to keep in mind that not all travelers are tourists. Many of them travel to different lands for business. You also cannot expect all your colleagues, clients and potential business partners to speak or understand English, for example. When you make the effort to talk to people in their native language, it shows that you respect them and you are willing to go to great lengths to earn their trust. Since you do not speak the language, booking the services of a qualified interpreter is your best option.
6. Public schools and government services
The immigrant population in the United States is increasing, which means that the number of people who cannot speak or have limited capacity to speak English entering the country is getting higher. Schools with large immigrant student population are required to provide interpreters and translators in order to communicate better with students and their parents in the language they understand. Although the immigrant children are taught English in school, their parents and older relatives might not be capable of understanding or speaking in English. Different branches of government that have direct contact with the public could also use interpreting services to ensure proper dissemination of information.
7. Insurance industry
Just like in healthcare services, many people need insurance, and the majority of them who need insurance the most are not English speakers. They need interpreters to help them understand the complexities of getting insurance, fill up their insurance form accurately and know their obligations when they sign up for insurance, whether it is for worker’s compensation, auto insurance, home insurance or health insurance.
8. Event production
Event production is not limited to concerts. It also includes the production of large-scale meetings and conferences. International conferences typically need interpreting services in different forms. It could be simultaneous interpreting, which require more interpreting equipment, such as interpreters’ booths and microphones. In smaller conferences and meetings, consecutive interpreting is more preferable.
9. Training and consulting
More and more companies operate globally, requiring them to hire local workforce and multilingual staff. Most of them provide training for their workers, who speak different languages. For multilingual training seminars, which can be done in one venue and broadcast via live streaming over the Internet, interpreting services are very applicable. Human resource consultants can also benefit from the services of interpreters to increase their client base as well as enhance their services because they can offer their expertise to clients overseas.
10. Humanitarian services
Government agencies, private organizations and NGOs providing humanitarian services definitely need interpreters as they serve people, especially the marginalized ones, who speak different languages, as well as those with hearing impairment. In emergencies, interpreters are critical in helping people to remain calm and follow directions. They can explain what the warnings mean, where they should go and what they should do. They can relay vital information to first respondents in case of vehicular accidents or before, during and after the occurrence of natural calamities. Laws have been passed requiring different government units to provide interpreters to facilitate communication.
In case there is no interpreter on site, you now have another option.
On-demand phone interpreters
If you’re on the road most of the time, you’d find it very convenient to have access to an on-demand interpreting service. Day Translations, Inc. has created a DayInterpreting app, which you can download on your smartphone or mobile device. You can quickly and easily connect with an interpreter with a touch of a button. On-demand phone interpreting is a modern solution for busy people who deal with multilingual clients. On-demand interpreting does not require a wired phone connection or specialized equipment. The app works as long as there is Internet connection. The service is efficient, reliable and quick.
Setting up the DayInterpreting app is easy. Download the app on your mobile device. Create an account at the DayInterpreting website. Wait for the unique ID to be sent to you. Input your password and buy prepaid credits. The minimum is $5.
You can learn more about the DayInterpreting app here.
For your interpreting needs, work with a professional company that knows languages best
In any situation where interpreting services are required, it is essential for the interpreter to understand the needs of the clients. Some people can only understand things in their simplest forms. Others require specific terminology according to their profession and educational background. Whatever type of interpreting services you need, in almost any language, it is best to work with a professional language services company. It is your assurance that you are getting high-quality linguistic service.
Our interpreters here at Day Translations, Inc. are all native speakers and live in-country. We have subject matter experts for specialized interpreting services, depending on the industry and human services sector. Download and use our DayInterpreting app if you need an interpreter in hurry or book the services of our interpreters for your meeting, conference or event by calling 1-800-969-6853 or sending us an email at Contact us. We are available anytime, as we are open 24 hours a day, every day of the year.